On June 27, China United Network Communications (China Unicom) signed an agreement with Cameroon Telecommunications and Huawei Marine Networks to establish the South Atlantic Inter Link, or SAIL.

The SAIL cable network will span 6,000 kilometers to link the continents of Africa and America. The submarine cable project is designed to possess the largest data transmission capacity between the two continents, as well as provide high-quality and reliable intercontinental telecom services.

It is the first project in which a Chinese telecommunication operator and equipment manufacturer will work together on international industrial capacity cooperation and expand overseas, said Li Chong, general manager of the International Business Department of China United Network Communications, one of the top three operators.

According to the agreement, China Unicom will be responsible for the construction, as well as the operation and maintenance of the cable network, while Huawei Marine will offer systematic solutions.

The project is seen as an important step in developing Cameroon’s digital economy. The signing of the agreement means the SAIL project has entered the implementation phase.